Will BSE Give Animal Agriculture Another Black Eye?
The discovery of BSE in a California dairy cow has been confirmed by USDA. Following that announcement on April 24, the futures market for live cattle futures ended the trading day locked limit down, and cattle organizations launched their crisis communication plans, reporting the meat and milk supplies were safe. It was bound to happen, and once again agriculture faces a challenge.
Posted by Stu Ellis on 04/24 at 11:35 PM | (1) Comments | Permalink
Yield Prospects Up, Price Prospects Down for 2012 Corn
When USDA’s crop statisticians released their crop progress report earlier in the week, 28% of the crop has been planted, about twice the rate of the past five years. Of course, the warm March weather allowed that to happen, but also put some of that crop in jeopardy on April 11 and 12 when sub-freezing temperatures wilted the earliest planted corn. But that did not destroy the effort of thousands of farmers who ventured into the field in mid and late March.
Posted by Stu Ellis on 04/24 at 06:53 AM | (3) Comments | Permalink
Is The Frost Forcing You To Replant Some Corn?
If your corn was frost bitten on April 11 or 12, the impact will certainly be noticeable. It may have leaf damage. Some stalks will be brown and completely wilted, and dead with no hope of recovery. Some stalks will be brown with some green leaf tissue beginning to emerge. How do you assess the damage, and determine whether there is a need to tear up the field and replant it? Big decisions in a year that has seed priced at more than $100 per acre, and no insurance coverage on it.
Posted by Stu Ellis on 04/23 at 01:48 AM | (1) Comments | Permalink
Need A Plan To Control Waterhemp?
Starting with a clean slate has some positive psychological benefits, and in the world of soybeans, a clean slate without Glyphosate-resistant waterhemp is even more heady. As you prepare for the 2012 soybean crop, there are some events you cannot control, but there are also some pro-active management strategies you can take to win the battle and the war with waterhemp.
Posted by Stu Ellis on 04/19 at 11:13 PM | (0) Comments | Permalink
Will The Next Farmland Auction Be Higher Or Lower In Price?
With planters in the field, farm land sales will take a bit of a hiatus and begin again in the fall, but where they will resume may or may not be where they left off. Iowa farmland auctions had set the records in the $15 to $16 thousand range, but Central Illinois auction prices are not far behind. And with such reports, come the persistent questions of how those values can be sustained. Reasonable questions.
Posted by Stu Ellis on 04/19 at 12:54 AM | (0) Comments | Permalink